After a disappointing 2-8 season, the Western football team hits the gym this winter in an effort to
improve strength, conditioning and forge tighter bonds as a team
Erin Miller
The Western Front
Following a disappointing
2-8 season this year the Western
football team is starting fresh in
2008 by going back to the basics
in winter training.
After a few general team
meetings the team reconvened
for morning practices Jan. 7,
senior offensive lineman Dan
Trask said.
“We sat down as a whole
entire team and tried to figure
out what went wrong last season
and I guess it was many factors
combined," Trask said. "It wasn’t
one thing that separated it and
that’s what was frustrating.”
Although official training
has just started, most players
continued to work out during the
end of the season and through
winter break, Trask said.
“A bunch of guys stayed
up during break and worked out
when they could," Trask said.
"We didn’t just stop.”
Players lift four days a week
at 6:30 a.m. practices, and then
run three days a week, Trask
said. Strength and defensive line
coach Lawrence Suiaunoa said
special teams and those on the
line form two groups that run and
lift weights on alternate days.
“We split them up by groups
that they can bond in,” Suiaunoa
said. “That is the theory behind
separating them. But as far as
the workouts go, there is no
difference.”
The importance of training
has increased as Western
tries to improve on last year’s
disappointing season.
“There are a lot of things to
improve on for next year,” senior
wide receiver Pat McCann said.
“The biggest thing is we need to
come together as a team and play
more cohesively.”
Trask and McCann point
to the need for an increase of
speed and strength on both the
offensive and defensive line for
the season to come.
because as an offensive lineman
it’s a lot of footwork and quick
movements," Trask said.
A good offensive line also
needs to be fast so they may
better protect the quarterback,
Trask said.
“We take a lot of pride in
protecting the quarterback and
that’s a big thing for the line
next year," Trask said. "We gave
up some sacks last year that we
shouldn’t have."
To increase speed and
strength Western is relying
on what Suiaunoa calls a
“universally” used winter
training program of weight lifting
and running that will prepare the
football team for next season,
Suiaunoa said.
“It’s a blanket workout for
everyone but there are certain
cases we handle on an individual
basis like injury or specific
needs,” Suiaunoa said.
The training not only helps
the team become stronger as
individuals, it helps make the
team a cohesive unit, Trask said.
“I think we need to come
together more as a team,” Trask
said. “I think the things we’re
doing in the off season will
increase team camaraderie. The
team aspect is an overall focus
for us next year.”
It is encouraging to see
everyone working out together
and putting out the same effort
to get better, McCann said.
The football spring practice
schedule is set to begin April 5.
Western football team goes back to basic training
